Inspiring Journeys: Sparks of Hope - Hope Under the Tree: A Christmas Kindness in Melbourne
Release Date: 12/28/2024
Throwback Thursday: The Pirate Movie
GenX Journeys
Ahoy, GenXers! This week weâre revisiting one of the cheesiest, campiest, and most gloriously over-the-top cult classics of the â80s â The Pirate Movie! Originally released on August 6, 1982, this wild ride mashes up The Pirates of Penzance with slapstick humor, ridiculous musical numbers, and more innuendos than we realized as kids. Del Roehling and I (Paul Stroessner) first covered this back on January 21, 2022, and it quickly became one of the most popular Return to the â80s episodes. With Kristy McNichol and Christopher Atkins leading the charge, The Pirate Movie is part musical,...
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GenX Journeys: Fitness, Mindset & Midlife Confidence with Lydia Magnoli
GenX Journeys
Midlife isnât the beginning of the end â itâs the beginning of your encore. đ„ In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with Lydia Magnoli, online fitness coach, content creator, and founder of The Magnoli Method app. Lydia opens up about leaving a âsafeâ tenured job as a school psychologist to follow her true calling, losing 65+ pounds naturally, and helping women over 40 build strength, confidence, and healthier habits without a gym. Youâll hear about: đ Reinvention after 40: trusting the inner voice when others doubt you đȘ Why fitness after 40 is about energy...
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Throwback Thursday: Dare to Dream with Stan Bush
GenX Journeys
Weâre cranking up the anthems for this weekâs Throwback Thursday with a very special guestâStan Bush! Best known for âThe Touchâ (The Transformers: The Movie) and âNever Surrenderâ (Kickboxer), Stan has built a career around motivational rock anthems that have inspired fans across generations. In this episode (originally released on December 22, 2020), Paul and Del chat with Stan about his journey from Gainesville clubs to LA studios, from winning an Emmy to being inducted into the Transformers Hall of Fame. We dive deep into: âš The story behind âThe Touchâ (and how it...
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Throwback Thursday: Aliens
GenX Journeys
This week weâre flashing back to June 25, 2020, when Del Roehling and I revisited one of the greatest sequels of all time â Aliens (1986). Back then, I had just wrapped up a tough semester in my masterâs program for Creative Writing, and like so many of us, I was stuck at home during lockdown. Del and I took the opportunity to dive into James Cameronâs explosive follow-up to Ridley Scottâs Alien, and we had a blast breaking it all down. We cover: đœ How Aliens shifted from horror to all-out action đ„ Sigourney Weaver cementing her place as a true action hero đŹ The...
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Throwback Thursday: St. Elmo's Fire
GenX Journeys
Weâre rewinding to April 2020 for a fun and fiery discussion with the Return to the â80s Brat PackâLizzie Newton, Del Roehling, and meâas we take on the 1985 Brat Pack classic St. Elmoâs Fire. Recorded in the middle of lockdown, this episode is full of laughs, unexpected takes, and a whole lot of side tangentsâfrom Rob Loweâs dangly earring and Demi Mooreâs pink apartment, to the characters we loved (or loved to hate). Lizzie shares why she kept expecting the bar to literally burst into flames, Del questions why anyone liked these characters at all, and I revisit the movie with...
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Throwback Thursday: The Dirt
GenX Journeys
đ Originally aired: April 12, 2019 đ§ Guest: Lizzie Newton (from Liz Laugh Cry) This week on Return to the â80s, weâre throwing it back to one of our most fun and unfiltered episodes â the wild ride that is Netflixâs The Dirt, the biopic based on the notorious rise (and mayhem) of Mötley CrĂŒe. This episode marks the very first appearance of Lizzie Newton, and as listeners know, every episode sheâs been on since has become one of our most downloaded. We recorded this one together, in person, and the chemistry is off the charts. đž In this episode, we dive into: Lizzieâs...
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GenX Book Club: Films of Endearment by Michael Koresky
GenX Journeys
In this monthâs GenX Book Club, Paul Stroessner, Suzanne Mattaboni, and Del Roehling dive into Michael Koreskyâs heartfelt memoir-meets-film-critique, Films of Endearment: A Mother, a Son, and the â80s Films That Defined Us. Koresky revisits ten female-driven films of the 1980s with his mother, using them as a lens to explore family, loss, identity, and how movies shape the way we see the world. The discussion covers: How films like 9 to 5, Terms of Endearment, Aliens, and Baby Boom look different when revisited decades later Reflections on workplace inequality, motherhood, identity,...
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Throwback Thursday: Never Seen It â Highlander
GenX Journeys
Originally released: April 13, 2017 In this special Throwback Thursday episode, Paul and Robert are joined by the legendary Doug McCoyâhost of the now-retired McCoyCast podcast network, which included shows like Never Seen It, Crazy Creepy Cool Movies, and In the Theater. Doug also wrote the eBook TV in My Time. While none of Dougâs past content is currently available online, weâre thrilled to preserve this conversation as a tribute to his fantastic contributions to the retro podcasting world. Inspired by Dougâs podcast Never Seen It, this episode takes the same approach: at least one...
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Unlocking Inner Power with Neal Bakshi
GenX Journeys
In this deeply inspiring episode, Paul is joined by spiritual guide, author, and former Goldman Sachs VP Neal Bakshi, whose bold journey from Wall Street to worldwide healing retreats embodies everything GenX Journeys stands for: reinvention, purpose, and soul alignment. đ» After narrowly recovering from a laptop disaster (kombucha meets keyboard!), Paul reflects on synchronicity and gratitudeâand how sometimes, the universe has your back even when it doesnât feel like it. From there, Paul and Neal dive into: âš Grief and Transformation â How the sudden loss of Nealâs mother became...
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GenX Journeys x The Long Rewind: â80s Movie Soundtracks
GenX Journeys
Get ready to crank up the volume and rewind the tape as GenX Journeys joins forces with The Long Rewind for an epic crossover episode all about â80s Movie Soundtracks! This is Paulâs first official crossover episode, released both on GenX Journeys and The Long Rewind feedsâso no matter where youâre tuning in, youâre in for a rad ride through one of the best parts of â80s pop culture. In this episode: đ” Paul and Dustin share their earliest memories of movie soundtracks, and the albums that first hooked them on cinematic music. đ¶ They discuss why soundtracks exploded in...
info_outlineđïž Episode Summary
Welcome to the debut episode of Sparks of Hope, a new feature of the Inspiring Journeys podcast dedicated to shining a light on the goodness and compassion in our world. These bite-sized episodes share uplifting stories that remind us of the powerful connections we share as humans.
In this episode, weâre exploring a heartwarming story of generosity that took place in Melbourne, Australia. Amid the holiday season, a mystery woman stepped forward to pay off over $8,000 in layaway balances for families at a local toy shop, ensuring they could celebrate Christmas without financial stress.
Her selfless act sparked joy, hope, and gratitude, reminding us of the power of kindness to brighten othersâ lives.
đ What to Expect in This Episode
- The story behind this anonymous womanâs extraordinary generosity
- Reflections on why small, kind actions matter and how they inspire change
- Practical ideas for spreading kindness in your own community
đ„ Watch the News Story
You can see more about this story in this touching video by ABC News:
Mystery Melbourne woman pays off toy shop lay-bys worth over $8,000 | ABC News
đĄ Key Takeaway
Kindness, no matter how big or small, has the power to connect us and remind us of our shared humanity. What sparks of hope can you create in your world today?
đŁ Join the Conversation
Whatâs a moment of kindness that inspired you? Weâd love to hear your story! Share it on social media using #SparksOfHope and tag us to be part of the conversation.
âš Closing Reflection
This holiday season, letâs be reminded of the good that exists in the world. Whether itâs offering a smile, lending a helping hand, or paying it forward, every action counts. Together, we can create more sparks of hope.
đ Thank you for tuning into this inspiring journey. If this story resonated with you, please share it with someone who could use a little hope and encouragement today.
You can find Paul - The Rhode Runner in the following places:
Twitter: @TheRhodeRunner
Instagram: @TheRhodeRunner
Inspiring Journeys can be found on:
Instagram: @InspiringJourneysPod
Email: [email protected]
You can also download and subscribe to the Inspiring Journeys Podcast at: